Change Gonna Come
Grand Puba Lyrics

A gat don't make you a man cause a man made the gat
Possessing a gun does not define masculinity since it was created by a human being

So stop with the black on black (x2)
Stop the violence within the Black community

We got black on black
There is violence within the Black community

Black on crack
Drug addiction is another issue within the Black community

Knowledge of self is what the black people lack
Lack of self-awareness is one of the problems within the Black community

Grew up in the projects with the welfare and the food stamps
Many Black people have grown up in poverty-stricken areas with no access to resources

Modern day concentration camps
These areas of poverty are similar to concentration camps in terms of their effect on oppressed groups

Where we lost all our unity
Due to struggles like poverty and violence, the Black community has lost its sense of unity

Because the negativity pulls us down like gravity
Negativity is like gravity, always pulling us down

Black people on each others back
Black people are contributing to the violence and bad influence on their own community

Little shortie sedated thinkin' the way out is by selling cracks
Young Black individuals resort to selling drugs as a means to escape poverty

I seen black borthers cry like day by day the number multiply
The increasing violence and poverty within the Black community is leading to more tears

And the devil don't give a damn long as a black man kills another black man
The devil only benefits from Black-on-Black violence

It makes his job more eaiser
The devil thrives on the negatives within the community

As the tick goes with the tock he's just gettin' sleezier and sleezier
As time goes on, the devil's tactics become more corrupt

Here's a good example of yourself
A reminder to take responsibility for your actions

Talkin' about a devil on a record they put you on the shelf
If the rapper's music promotes negative ideas, they will not receive recognition or success

As long as you talk about 'Yo I bust this nigga and I bust that nigga'
As long as the rapper promotes violence, they will gain recognition

You grow bigger as a rap figure
Promoting violence can lead to recognition in the rap industry

But that's still black on black welcome back
Promoting violence perpetuates the cycle of Black-on-Black violence

It's time to graduate from that
It's time to move away from promoting violence and negativity

Change gon come change gon come time to free the dumb time to free the dumb (x3)
Change is necessary in order to liberate the oppressed; repeat of the chorus

Change gon come say what say what so get up out the slum
Change is necessary to escape poverty and oppression

Now let's deal on the real don't you set sick of this?
It's time to face the reality of the situation

The way we hate eachother the shit's ridiculous
Hating each other is senseless and needs to stop

It's time to move on to the next phase
It's time to progress from this negative cycle

Cause there's too many shorties gettin' boxed in the grave
Too many young people are dying

Some think respect is an uzi or a tech
Some people think that respect can only be gained through violence

But when he steals your intellect it's like a rope around your neck
Negativity can prevent someone from reaching their full potential

That's the 2000 tricknowledge
This is a new type of knowledge (millennium) that is corrupted

That's the shit you won't learn in college brother
This is not the kind of knowledge that is taught in institutions of higher education

You get to be strong you got to hold on
Strength comes from perseverance

You got to know the ledge before you hit the edge
One must be informed and prepared before taking risks

Time to get wise and civilize
It's time to gain more knowledge and become more civilized

Open up your eyes all three eyes and recognzie
Open your spiritual and physical eyes (third eye) and recognize what's happening

What your doing all that bullshit you pursueing
Question your actions and the path you are currently on

Put your whole life on ruin
Your choices can lead to the destruction of your life

Let's kill the black on black vigga
End the cycle of Black-on-Black violence

Cause it only gets us locked up or in the box quicker
Violence only leads to imprisonment and death

And that's ain't how you get the cheese
Violence won't lead to success and wealth

Cause now ya locked up or gunned down by your enemy
Violence leads to being imprisoned or killed by the oppressor

But I'm a deader that gat
I am against violence and guns

Word is born
This is the truth

Keep it true God keep it true (x8)
Stay true to yourself, God; repeated eight times

KnowhatI'msayin'? Time to civilize you know get wise. Think. Stop and think youknowhatI'msayin'? No doubt. Check it so just...
Encouragement to become more civilized and wise

Stop think, listen to the God hear what he's sayin'. (x2)
Listen to the wisdom being shared; repeated twice

No doubt I'd like to send this one out to all the people still striving and
A message of hope to those working hard to better themselves and their community

stugglin'to keep it real youknowhatI'msayin'?
A reminder to stay true to oneself

Not actin' like we keepin' it real no doubt
Authenticity is important; don't pretend to be something you're not

Peace and love
A message of peace and love

That's D on the hook off.
The song concludes with Grand Puba acknowledging those involved in the track